Here's my early attempt at our 53 man roster. I thought it would be worth doing so I know which camp battles are going to be the most important.
Now the 80 man roster is still to be formed, a couple more undrafted free agents are still to be signed and there could well be a veteran pick up or trade not to mention injuries. It obviously depends on training camp and pre season performances and so far we know very little about the recent additions. Below is some explanation of my selections.
Offense - 24
Quarterbacks (2): Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn.
Halfbacks (3): Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson, James Starks.
Fullbacks (2): , John Kuhn, Quinn Johnson. (toughest cut: Korey Hall)
Receivers (4): Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson, James Jones. (toughest cut: Brett Swain).
Tight ends (3): Jermichael Finley, Jason Quarless, Spencer Havner. (toughest cut: Donald Lee)
Offensive Tackles (5): Chad Clifton, Bryan Bulaga, Mark Tauscher, T.J. Lang, Breno Giacomini,
Interior linemen (5): Josh Sitton, Daryn Colledge, Jason Spitz, Scott Wells, Marshall Newhouse. (toughest cut: Evan Dietrich-Smith)
Defense - 26
Defensive linemen (7): Ryan Pickett, B.J. Raji, Cullen Jenkins, Mike Neal, Johnny Jolly, Jarius Wynn, AJ Wilson. (toughest cut: Justin Harrell)
Inside linebackers (4) : A.J. Hawk, Nick Barnett, Brandon Chillar, Desmond Bishop,
Outside linebackers (5): Clay Matthews, Brad Jones, Cyril Obiozor, Brady Poppinga, Tim Knicky.
Cornerbacks (6): Charles Woodson, Al Harris, Tramon Williams, Pat Lee, Will Blackmon, Brandon Underwood, (toughest cut: Jarrett Bush).
Safeties (4): Nick Collins, Morgan Burnett, Atari Bigby, Derrick Martin,
Specialists (3): Mason Crosby, Chris Bryan, Brett Goode.
OLB: This seems to me the softest spot on the roster. With the loss of Kampman and Jeremy Thompson we have some space. I like Brad Jones and Clay Matthews to start but the depth is either raw (Obiozor, Knicky) or unsuited to the 3-4 (Poppinga). From my roster I'd be happy to lose either Poppinga or Knicky, but there doesn't currently seem to be any better options on our roster. I went with Knicky but it could be any of the undrafted free agents.
DL: I love the depth along the DL and if Justin Harrell makes a full recovery, a big if, he would be a tough cut considering we've kept him around for so long without any return. But I can't justify 8 defensive linemen and the odds seem to be against Harrell shaking off his back injury.
DBs: I actually think we're reasonably well stocked here. With Derrick Martin being a better special teams gunner he gets the nod over Jarrett Bush. I just don't see Bush making the roster as an 11th DB.
FB: With quality in other areas I think we have to sacrifice one of our FBs. I keep QJ for upside and it's a toss up between Kuhn and Hall but with us going with only two I take the guy who's been less injury prone.
WR: I go with only four WRs due to Finley and Quarless being solid receivers. I'd like a 5th WR but it comes down to keeping a better player elsewhere on the roster.
TE: I'm really not sure who goes between Donald Lee and Spencer Havner. The tie breaker proves to be Lee's $2m contract and Havner being able to moonlight at linebacker and on special teams.
OL: Our depth at OT is good with Bulaga and Lang behind the two vets. Inside Sitton has RG and we should be able to find two starters from Wells, Spitz and Colledge. Newhouse provides young depth at both G and T. The 10th spot was a close call between Giacomini and the promising EDS. I go with Giacomini because tackles are harder to find than interior linemen and EDS might make our PS.
Specialists: I'd love to fit in undrafted CB Sam Shields but unless he lights up the pre season I don't see a space for him due to his apparent weakness at CB. Arena league WR Charles Dillon may squeeze in as the 5th WR/KR. I thought about adding Shields in place of Giacomini but that makes the Offense/Defense split 23 to 27.
A few candidates for the Practice Squad:
QB Chris Pizzotti
LB Frank Zombo
CB/KR Sam Shields
C/G Evan Dietrich-Smith (been on the full roster for a year but not active for 9 games I don't think)
OT Chris Campbell
DE Ronald Talley
RB Quinn Porter
OLB John Russell
WE Charles Dillon